Grapes are sensitive to early autumn and spring low temperature damage. The current study aimed to assay the effects of cold stress (+1 °C for 4, 8, and 16 h) on three grapevine cultivars (Ghiziluzum, Khalili, and Perllete). The results showed that cold stress caused significant changes in the antioxidant and biochemicals content in the studied cultivars. Furthermore, examining the chlorophyll fluorescence indices, cold stress caused a significant increase in minimal fluorescence (F0), a decrease in maximal fluorescence (Fm), and the maximum photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) in all cultivars. Among the studied cultivars, ‘Perllete’ had the highest increase in proline content and activity of antioxidant enzymes and also had the lowest accumulation of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, and F0, as well as less of a decrease in Fm and Fv/Fm, and had a higher tolerance to cold stress than ‘Ghiziluzum’ and ‘Khalili’. ‘Perllete’ and ‘Ghiziluzum’ showed reasonable tolerance to the low temperature stress. ‘Khalili’ was sensitive to the stress. The rapid screening of grapevine cultivars in early spring low temperatures is applicable with the assaying of some biomolecules and chlorophyll fluorescence.

Biofertilizers, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and seaweed extract (SWE), have been effective in environmental and agricultural ecosystems. In this study, the effects of AMF, SWE, and their co-application were assayed on the growth and antioxidant potential of lettuce plants. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with two factors and four replications under greenhouse conditions. The first factor was AMF (Glomus mosseae) at two levels consisting of AMF application (20 g pot⁻¹), and without using AMF; and the second factor was SWE foliar spraying (Ascophyllum nodosum) at 0.5, 1.5 and 3 g L⁻¹ concentration. The results revealed that the highest root colonization (85%) belonged to AMF and SWE (3 g L⁻¹) × AMF; the lowest colonization rate (65%) was observed for AMF × SWE (0.5 g L⁻¹) treatment. The highest growth parameters (leaf number, shoot and root fresh weight, head diameter), biochemical traits (total soluble proteins, carbohydrates content) and TAA, total antioxidant activity by FRAP method and ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoids content were obtained with the co-applications. Therefore, the best results of the evaluated traits were achieved with AMF × SWE (3 g L⁻¹). The TAA value was increased three-fold compared to the control. Total phenolics and flavonoids content were 2.24 and 6.59 times higher than the control, respectively. On the other hand, leaf dry weight was decreased with the further growth of the plants. Overall, the co-application of AMF with SWE can be recommended to producers as an alternative and environment-friendly strategy to improve the qualitative and quantitative traits of the lettuce crop.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different drying methods (shade drying, sun drying and oven drying at 40°C and 60°C) on essential oil content and composition of common basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Flowering aerial parts of basil plants were dried under different methods until constant weight. Volatile oil content and composition of plants were determined by Clevenger type apparatus and GC-MS method respectively. The results showed that different drying methods had significant effects on essential oil content as: shade drying (0.9 %) > oven drying at 40°C (0.8 %) > sun drying (0.5 %) > oven drying at 60°C (0.4 %) respectively. Essential oil constituents number and proportional percentage affected by drying methods as well. Estragol (11.3–51.3 %), menthone (0.4–33.1 %), linalool (1.7–7.8 %), phytol (0.1–6.1 %), methyl eugenal (1–4.2 %), trans-α-bergamotene (0.7–3.9 %) and trans-β-farnesene (1.1–3.9 %) were the common major volatile oil compounds of different drying methods. Menthol (6.1 %), isoneomathol (7.5 %), menthyl acetate (5.6 %), piperitone (3.7 %) and limonene (1.5 %) were the major components of shade dried plants. α-Cadinol (2.9–21.1 %) and phytol had appreciable amounts under oven drying conditions. Δ-cadinene and γ-cadinene were exclusive of sun drying and 60°C oven dried plants respectively. In total regarding the essential oil content and composition, traditional shade drying method was distinguished as the appropriate procedure for sweet basil drying.

Beneficial plant–microbe interaction for enhancing crop yield and quality is a sustainable way to achieve eco-friendly, desirable agricultural productions. The main objective of this experiment was to evaluate the individual and combined effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) strain (Funneliformis mosseae) and a seaweed extract (SWE) derived from Ascophyllum nodosum, on the growth and physiological responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Lettuce plants were inoculated with commercial AMF inoculum (5 g kg⁻¹ soil), and SWE foliar application was done at three levels (0.5, 1.5, and 3 g L⁻¹). The findings revealed that AMF along with SWE generated the greatest impact. In fact, co-application of AMF inoculation and 3 g L⁻¹ SWE considerably enhanced root colonization, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and mineral content in the shoots and roots (N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, and Mn content) of lettuce plants. This combination improved initial fluorescence (F₀), photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_V/F_m) and Y(NO) and total antioxidant activity (TAA), whereas the maximum fluorescence, (F_m) and Y(II), showed the highest increase in lettuce plants treated with AMF and 1.5 g L⁻¹ SWE. Furthermore, AMF inoculation along with SWE, at concentrations 1.5 and 3 g L⁻¹, considerably enhanced variable fluorescence (F_V) and the activity of water decomposition in electron donor photosystem II (F_V/F₀). As a result of these findings, it can be stated that the co-application of AMF and SWE positively improves the growth and development of lettuce plants.